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The Football Association have appealed to FIFA to rule on Dele Alli’s middle finger gesture before England’s next game against Slovenia in a bid to help him escape a World Cup ban.

FIFA have opened an investigation over Alli’s salute that he made in England’s World Cup qualifying victory over Slovakia and the case will be reviewed by the governing body’s Disciplinary Committee before the end of the month.

If found guilty, Alli could face a four-game ban that would rule him out of at least the first two games of the World Cup in Russia.

The FA have requested a decision is made on whether or not Alli will be suspended before England’s next game, so that a potential ban could kick in immediately and include the final two qualifying games against Slovenia and Lithuania.

Alli says his gesture was aimed at team-mate Kyle Walker as a joke

Manager Gareth Southgate is expected to name his squad for those games on September 28 and he will also want to be sure of whether or not Alli is available to him.

Alli has argued that his gesture was aimed at England team-mate Kyle Walker as part of a joke the pair were sharing and both players are understood to have submitted their own evidence to FIFA.

The FA’s submission to FIFA included a plea in mitigation and evidence, including previously unseen footage, that the gesture was aimed at Walker, rather than the referee or Alli’s opponents.

Just to clarify, the gesture tonight was a joke between me and my good friend Kyle Walker! Apologies for any offence caused! Great win 2nite